For Leigh football coach Shawn Thomas, he just loves it when the even-numbered years fall on the calendar.

“It’s a little eerie, but every time it’s an even year, our team does really well,” Thomas said. “We’ll go out and win eight, nine games that year. The next year we usually fall back down and win four or five games.”

After a 4-6 season in 2009, Thomas and the Longhorns are primed and ready to bounce back in a big way in 2010. Leigh went 4-1 at home last year, but failed to break through on the road, losing all five away games.

Lack of depth is always a concern for Thomas, but after injuries decimated the Leigh squad last year, the injury bug is once again at the top of the list heading into a new year.

“It’s always about health,” Thomas said. “Once league hit, we had more concussions that anyone in the section. Our depth took a big hit and we weren’t the same team anymore.”

The lack of depth taxed the Longhorns as a whole and points were given up in boatloads. In a four week stretch to open play in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, Leigh gave up point totals of 30, 40, 30 and 36. Now that’s a long October.

It won’t take long for the Longhorns to rectify their losing ways on the road, since the first two games on the 2010 docket both come away from home.

First up is a short car ride just up the road to play Westmont. The following week, Leigh hits the road for its longest journey of the season, a week two meeting at Half Moon Bay.

“It’s a nice little neighborhood rivalry when we play Westmont,” Thomas said. “I’m glad we have them on our schedule.”

“League is wide open this year,” he added. “I expect us to be right in the middle of it and contend for a title.”

As usual when the Longhorns contend, they roll out plenty of talent at the skill spots and lots of size in the middle. That model will be held true once again this fall.

Junior running back/defensive back Ricky McDiarmid (5-11, 165) moves from wide receiver to play tailback for the Longhorns. Paired with senior standout Larry Donald (5-11, 175) on offense, the two playmakers are sure to give defensive coaches in the league lots of headaches this fall. Donald, a smooth wide out and defensive back, snatched up 44 catches for a total of 752 yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season.

Last year’s starter at quarterback has since transferred, but Thomas has a transfer lined up to fill in at the quarterback spot. Since the paperwork has yet to be finished up, Thomas declined to mention the new signal caller’s name.

“Larry is as good of a wide out as you’ll find in the section,” Thomas said. “Both [Donald and McDiarmid] will be among the league’s best at their positions.”

Senior running back Brian Devincenzi (5-9, 160) and senior wide receiver/kicker Trevor Pardula (6-6, 205) add two more weapons on the ground and in the air for the Longhorns in 2010.

Devincenzi is a nice change of pace option on the ground, while Pardula has big-time size–he’s 6-6 and will be making his varsity debut this fall after starring on the soccer team the past few years at Leigh, and will be used in the Longhorns multiple wide receiver look offensive attack, along with on special teams. Pardula and his big leg have already garnered a lot of attention and will be used early and often by Thomas to get some points on the scoreboard from all over the field.

“He was just lining up a 51-yarder before this interview started,” Thomas said. “With Trevor we have a shorter field to work with. He’s already getting looks from several schools. He’s an All-American type of talent.”

In the size department, senior Kenny Hannan (6-2, 220) and juniors Zac Janovich (6-5, 225) and Brad Hartsell (6-1, 240) lead the way. Hannan and Janovich both will play defensive end, forming as solid of a defensive end pair as you’ll find in the “A” division.

Janovich will also line up at tight end, giving Thomas another big target to use in his potentially explosive offensive group. Hartsell is slated to start and center and will also start at linebacker for the healthy and much-improved Longhorns defense.

Leigh kicks off the season Sept. 10 at Westmont. League plays begins on Oct. 1 when the Longhorns square off against “A” league newbie Andrew Hill.

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